| Although motorcycle crashes only account for | | | | these lower speeds. They also take more risks |
| about 4 percent of all crashes with vehicles in the | | | | and these factors together result in more |
| United States it not something to be happy about | | | | accidents. |
| because of all the deaths in those accidents they | | | | Let's look at some more numbers just to take |
| bring in a staggering 10 percent and another 7 | | | | away some more myths. One tenth of vehicle |
| percent for injuries. What makes it even more | | | | registration are by younger motorcyclists but |
| sad is that most of those accidents are not so | | | | they take up one third of all the crashes. These |
| difficult to avoid if only some very simple | | | | numbers maybe alarming but more disconcerting |
| guidelines were followed. | | | | are the numbers of crashes where alcohol is |
| Clearing up some myths | | | | involved. Driving any vehicle while you have been |
| A mistake most people make is that they think | | | | drinking alcoholic beverages is dangerous and |
| that most crashes with motorcycles are the | | | | stupid, riding a motorcycle while intoxicated is |
| cause of the other vehicles. This is not true. When | | | | more so. |
| we take a look at the numbers from 2000 up to | | | | Motorcycle Safety, these are the three keys |
| 2004 we see that about 63 percent of all the | | | | Riding a motorcycle in a save way is not that |
| crashes that involved motorcycles are crashes | | | | difficult if you keep these three keys in mind. |
| with one vehicle or the motorcyclist was the | | | | Key 1 |
| cause of the crash. This means that with almost | | | | You should not consume alcohol and then ride a |
| two thirds of all the crashes, where a motorcycle | | | | motorcycle. |
| was involved, the cause of that accident could be | | | | Key 2 |
| contributed to the rider. | | | | Keep in mind that even at low speeds your |
| Another myth is that most crashes happen at | | | | vehicle is still deadly. |
| night. Data from the same time period used | | | | Key 3 |
| above shows us that more then seventy percent | | | | Be ware of your surroundings, most accidents are |
| of the crashes happened during daytime. | | | | caused by the rider and not the other vehicles. |
| Some people seem to think that the majority of | | | | If you keep these 3 keys in mind and make sure |
| the crashes are because of high speeds. Although | | | | that all safety precautions are taken than riding a |
| the crashes that occur because of high speeds | | | | motorcycle can be a fun thing to do. If it is for |
| often do results in deaths most of the crashes | | | | your daily commute to work or just for your |
| happen at more or less lower speeds of 40 miles | | | | own pleasure, riding a motorcycle is something |
| or less per hour. So you see that a motorcycle is | | | | you should enjoy without having to think of all the |
| still dangerous even if the speed is relatively low. | | | | possible accidents you could have. Just make sure |
| A lot of the riders think that can react very quick | | | | that you are safe. |
| with their bikes so they stop being cautious at | | | | |